A significant portion of the population has ceased to believe in politics as it stands today. The party apparatus of various parties does not meet the aspirations of a segment of the populace, according to a Political Science professor at the University of the Azores. This sentiment was expressed in remarks made to a news agency.
The Azores experienced the highest abstention rate in the legislative elections held on the latest Sunday, registering 56.19%, while Braga recorded the lowest abstention rate at 30.29%.
Among the ten municipalities with the highest abstention rates, eight are located in the Azores electoral district. Ribeira Grande leads with 62.34%, followed by Vila Franca do Campo with 61.38%.
Ranking fourth is Vila do Porto with 59.78%, followed by Povoação with 59.62%, Calheta with 59.20%, Velas with 57.31%, Vila Praia da Vitória with 57.04%, and Lagoa with 56.79%.
Luís Andrade highlighted a “disbelief that the party system can meet the aspirations” of the population, particularly among the younger demographic.
The retired professor pointed out the social context in the Azores, characterized by “alarming levels of poverty” and low educational attainment.
“It is a combination of factors such as poverty, social exclusion, and lack of education. The lack of political culture also helps explain abstention. People, especially those with less education, do not see themselves represented by the parties,” he emphasized.
According to data released in January by the Francisco Manuel dos Santos Foundation, the Azores register the highest national rates of poverty (24.2%) and social exclusion (28.4%).
The archipelago also exhibits a high rate of early dropout from education and training at 19.8%, well above the national average of 6.6%, according to the National Institute of Statistics (INE).
University professor Luís Andrade believes political parties should be “concerned with deeply studying the problem” of abstention, while cautioning that citizen political participation should be a mission “for the entire society.”
“It is not easy. It is not solely the mission of political parties; it is for the whole of society. From primary and secondary schools to universities, the goal should be to encourage early, proactive participation to promote voting in every type of election,” noted the political scientist.
A 2019 study by the Interdisciplinary Center for Social Sciences—University of the Azores (CICS.UAc) identified, in addition to administrative issues, education level and exclusion from political participation as reasons behind abstention levels in the archipelago.
The research, led by Álvaro Borralho and commissioned by the Azores Legislative Assembly, asserted that “improving education contributes to bridging the gap between citizens and politics” and that electoral participation is unlikely “without political interest motivations.”
The AD – PSD/CDS-PP coalition won the Sunday legislative elections with 89 deputies, including the three elected by the AD coalition with the PPM in the Azores, while PS and Chega both secured 58 seats each in the parliament.
IL remains the fourth-largest political force, gaining an additional deputy to total nine, surpassing its 2024 count, while Livre increased its representation from four to six deputies.
The CDU (PCP/PEV) lost one seat, resulting in three deputies, while BE is reduced to one representative, as is PAN, which retained its single seat.
The JPP from Madeira succeeded in electing one deputy.
These results still exclude voters residing abroad, whose participation and choices will be revealed on May 28.
